The YCW had established cooperatives in the late 1940s, a manifestation of the movement's commitment to deliver a service for every need. The Co-Ooperator was a newspaper produced by the YCW sharing information regarding its activities in the co-operative sector. The extended publication details of the newspaper are unknown and this complete copy and fragment are the only surviving editions collected by the Archive.

Blazer

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Men's green blazer with pocket trim and YCW patch.

Historical information

During the 1950s, it became a practice for YCW and NCGM embers to wear a YCW blazer on formal occasions. These blazers would feature the YCW patch with the branch name embroidered below. Members would often recommission second hand school blazers as YCW wear.

Inscriptions & Markings

Blazer

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Navy blue blazer with YCW insignia on pocket.

Historical information

During the 1950s, it became a practice for YCW and NCGM embers to wear a YCW blazer on formal occasions. These blazers would feature the YCW patch with the branch name embroidered below. Members would often recommission second hand school blazers as YCW wear.

Significance

This blazer features the Parkside branch name. Parkside was a branch in the Adelaide diocese.

Significance

Black and White Photograph

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Historical information

In 1960, the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) conference was held in Accra, Ghana. The Australian YCW sent two delegates to the conference, Ernie Smith (back row, end right) and Betty King (second row, third from left). Around 400 representatives of youth organisations - including national YCW movements - from around the globe attended the conference. This photograph shows the YCW delegates the WAY 1960.

Significance

Father Ernie Smith, initiated the establishment of the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda, Melbourne. This photograph is copied from his personal collection.

Booklet - I Pledge Myself to Save Young Workers

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

9pp. colour booklet

Historical information

This booklet was produced by the national YCW as a means of engaging new and existing members. Divided into sections, the booklet places the Australian movement in an international context and includes pictures of founding chaplain of the Australian movement, Fr. Lombard.

Black and White Photographs

International Schedule 1965 - Bangkok

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Nine page typewritten and copied document on yellow paper

Historical information

From 1957, the International YCW held a world council every four years. This document is the proposed schedule for the Third World Council which was held in Bangkok in 1965.

Significance

The document offers a glimpse into the workings of the YCW on a global scale. It also explores the international campaigns and the and proposes an agenda and schedule for the fourteen day meeting comprising young delegates from all over the world.

Ballarat Diocesan Council 1963 - 1963 Diocesan Council & Conference

Bush Fire Working Party Registration Form (Blank)

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Document printed on pink paper

Historical information

In 1962, bushfires in the Dandenong Ranges (Melbourne, Victoria) took the lives of 32 people and saw the destruction of many homes. St Andrews was one of the places affected, and the Melbourne YCW (Boys) contributed to the re-building effort by providing skilled trades on a voluntary basis.

Significance

In the days before online communication, this proforma was distributed to YCW members either by post or through the channel of the branch meeting to garner volunteers to the bushfire recovery effort. The document reveals the coordinating role of the diocesan team based at headquarters, and how the YCW (Boys) in Melbourne understood it's role as a service organisation. This document is part of a broader set of documents exploring this effort, including a subsequent report evaluating the effort and letters of thanks.

YCW Leaders' Programme Booklets 1944 - 1948 - YCW Leaders' Programme

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Series of six booklets.

Historical information

In 1944 the YCW launched its first national campaign. These campaigns were supported by Leaders' Programme booklets, produced by the National Executive and sent to the leaders of all parish branches around the country. With these Programme guides, leaders were asked to shepherd members through the campaign over a period of months. In this collection, the booklets cover: The Mass; Communism; Family; Home; Social Responsibility.

YCW Newsletter April 1971 - YCW Newsletter

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Black and white printed newsletter with photos over four pages.

Historical information

Throughout its history, the YCW movement produced numerous publications for members and for the wider community. Some of these were regular papers or newsletters with high production values. Others were short lived efforts, produced 'in house' on low budgets. Reading across the collections, these public expressions of YCW communication provide insight into the movement's methods, the concerns of young women and men of the period, and how these shifted over time and across location.

Significance

This four page document reveals the key concerns of the YCW movement in Melbourne in 1971; internal migration from regional Australia to the cities and road safety. It features photographs taken by chaplain Jim Nippard.

Enba Newsletters - Enba

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Five editions of newsletter

Historical information

Enba was a newsletter produced by the Melbourne Executive of the YCW (Girls) distributed to members in the Melbourne Diocese in 1963 - 1965.Throughout its history, the YCW movement produced numerous publications for members and for the wider community. Some of these were regular papers or newsletters with high production values. Others were short lived efforts, produced 'in house' on low budgets. Reading across the collections, these public expressions of YCW communication provide insight into the movement's methods, the concerns of young women and men of the period, and how these shifted over time and across location.

Significance

Enba contains references to campaigns on work; reports from branches in the city of Melbourne including sport and social events; profiles of Diocesan Executive Members and Presidents; letters from Chaplains including a report from Fr Brian Burke; dates regarding Pre-Cana Seminars and Summer Schools.

Newspaper Advertisement (withdrawn) - Golden Gloves 1958

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

Historical information

The Australian YCW ran a number of sporting services throughout its history. One of these was the amateur boxing Golden Gloves competition in Melbourne between 1945 and c.1960.

Significance

This promotional flyer produced for the 1958 competition was withdrawn from distribution due to a typesetting error on the reverse page, where it suggests accommodation could be found at Mulqueen and Sons rather than the Lomond Hotel.

NCGM and YCW Boys Photographs

Young Christian Workers (YCW Australia) Archive and Research Centre , Fitzroy North

9 black and white photos from the National Catholic Girls Movement's (NCGM) Easter float parade, and YCW Boys social events.

Historical information

In the early stage of the Australian Young Christian Workers Movement the male and female members were separated into NCGM and YCW Boys. This was a reflection of society at the time as both groups campaigned on different youth realities to reflect their members, for example during the YCW's apprenticeship campaign YCW Boys looked at the topic of labourers and airport personal, while NCGM campaigned for changes to hairdressing apprenticeships.